Policing in Puerto Rico: Reforms in the 21st Century

• In Event: Police Reforms and Strategies

Abstract

In 2011, U.S. Department of Justice published a report investigating Puerto Rico’s Police Department (PRPD). The findings suggest that PRPD officers engage in a pattern of excessive use of force and civil rights violations. The lack of accountability is a product of insufficient training, little oversight, lack of procedures and ineffectual management. The U.S. Department of Justice mandated PRPD to participate in a series of trainings to address human rights violations and inconsistent policing practices. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of a university-based training on police behavior and community relations. The study presents initial results from supervisory interviews and organizational surveys focused on police officers' ratings of in-service/post-academy training.

Authors

• Xavier Perez, Saint Xavier University

• Jhon Sanabria, Instituto de Seguridad y Protección Sistema Universitario Ana G. Méndez